TWC First Contact - Combat Mission: Fortress Italy
| Rating: | 6.97 (6) |
| Games Played: | 3 |
| SM: | 9 |
| Turns: | 120 |
| Type: | Custom |
| First Side: | Allies |
| Second Side: | Axis |
Historical scenario based on accounts in the regimental history of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and other source material.
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division acquitted itself well in the landings on Sicily, overcoming weak Italian resistance and driving north in good order. The division covered almost fifty miles in four days. Unknown to them, the Germans had adopted a sensible strategy of abandoning the bulk of the island and withdrawing toward the port of Messina in the northeast corner of the island. Resistance stiffened against British forces on the eastern coast, where German forces fought a skillful defence, and the Canadians, in a secondary role, were required to press on with more urgency.
The Germans anticipated the Allied shift to the centre of the island, where the Canadians were, and moved the crack Hermann Goering Division to cover the few roads that snaked through the rugged terrain there. As July 15th dawned, the 1st Brigade was moving north on Highway 124. The Three Rivers Regiment had tanks in support of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, and their column approached the ancient town of Grammichele at about 09:00hrs. A battlegroup of tanks and infantry under Major Joachim Preuß was waiting on the hills above the town.
Map size: 2160 x 1216m
Game length: 120
Canadian force size: Battalion
Terrain type: Hilly, Valley
Weather and Environmental conditions: Clear, Dry
Designed for play either H2H or vs AI as either side, but not recommended for play as German.
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division acquitted itself well in the landings on Sicily, overcoming weak Italian resistance and driving north in good order. The division covered almost fifty miles in four days. Unknown to them, the Germans had adopted a sensible strategy of abandoning the bulk of the island and withdrawing toward the port of Messina in the northeast corner of the island. Resistance stiffened against British forces on the eastern coast, where German forces fought a skillful defence, and the Canadians, in a secondary role, were required to press on with more urgency.
The Germans anticipated the Allied shift to the centre of the island, where the Canadians were, and moved the crack Hermann Goering Division to cover the few roads that snaked through the rugged terrain there. As July 15th dawned, the 1st Brigade was moving north on Highway 124. The Three Rivers Regiment had tanks in support of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, and their column approached the ancient town of Grammichele at about 09:00hrs. A battlegroup of tanks and infantry under Major Joachim Preuß was waiting on the hills above the town.
Map size: 2160 x 1216m
Game length: 120
Canadian force size: Battalion
Terrain type: Hilly, Valley
Weather and Environmental conditions: Clear, Dry
Designed for play either H2H or vs AI as either side, but not recommended for play as German.
| Player Voting Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Member | Balance | Enjoyment |
 Stonecutter |
Well Balanced | 8 |
 Panzer Lehr |
Moderately Pro Allies | 7 |
 patton1945 |
Totally Pro Allies | 3 |
| Stonecutter |
Well Balanced | 9 |
 Guardsman |
Slightly Pro Allies | 8 |
| Gaming Records | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Side Player | 2nd Side Player | Result | Score | ||||||
 |
 |
Stonecutter | vs. | Guardsman |  |
 |
Allies Major Victory | 90 | 18 |
|
 |
patton1945 | vs. | mirekm61 |  |
|
Allies Tactical Victory | 81 | 27 |
|
|
Stonecutter | vs. | Panzer Lehr |  |
|
Allies Major Victory | 90 | 18 |
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1) Set Up & Deployment - While the initial ambush is a neat twist, I would prefer a more standard deployment with the Axis restricted to the town and perhaps half the high ground while the Allied player could deploy across the width of the long edge opposite the town. The German player could also use an additional platoon or two of infantry.
2) The Allied player has a Forward Observer but no arty - ??? At the very least they should have battalion mortars. Similarly, they should have battalion pioneers in support.
3) VPs - Allied VPs are all or nothing and involve a single 500 VP for the town. I think each side having 1500 VPs with the extra allocated to enemy casualties would provide more options and balance to the battle.